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Post by Ginnie on Nov 10, 2007 16:32:53 GMT -4
I've joined you there. May I ask about your new avatar? Oh, now I get you. It's a poppy. Almost all Canadians wear them from Nov. 1 to Nov. 11 (which is our Rememberance Day). These poppies are are pinnied to our clothing and worn to honour the brave soldiers who have fought and died in the battles that Canada has been involved in. There's a good chance that almost all Canadian in this forum has one pinned on their garments somewhere. There is a famous poem: In Flanders FieldsBy: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. HISTORY
Why was the poppy chosen as the symbol of remembrance for Canada's war dead?
The poppy, an international symbol for those who died in war, also had international origins.
A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.
Prior to the First World War few poppies grew in Flanders. During the tremendous bombardments of that war the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.
Lieut-Col. John McCrae, the Canadian doctor who wrote the poem IN FLANDERS FIELDS, made the same connection 100 years later, during the First World War, and the scarlet poppy quickly became the symbol for soldiers who died in battle.
Today, fields of brilliant poppies still grow in France. Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield. During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.
Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear poppies each November, use of the little red flower has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 116,031 of their countrymen who died in battle.
On November 11 of each year, the Royal Canadian Legion holds memorial services across Canada to honour the Canadian soldiers who died in the two World Wars, the Korean war or the peacekeeping missions. This date represents the armistice of the first World War.
Many Canadians believe that the most important role of the Legion is to maintain the tradition of Remembrance day. The Legion’s Remembrance Day programs allow us to honour all the men and women who served and died in military service in the two World Wars, the Korean war as well as the peacekeeping missions. Every year, there are thousands of dollars and voluntary hours committed to carry out the Remembrance Day programs and activities.
The Poppy and Remembrance Day Campaign takes place every November just prior to Remembrance Day. The campaign aim is to raise awareness of the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance Day. Proceeds from this campaign support veterans, ex-service members and their families who are in need. Since adopted, the poppy has become one of the most widely recognized symbols in Canada.
Every year, the Legion also organises a national poster and essay contest in schools. The goal of this activity is to try to make the youth understand what the nearly 116,000 men and women who died in battle or peacekeeping missions have done for us.
Every second summer, the Legion organizes a pilgrimage for youth leaders to Canadians memorials in Europe. The Legion also supports the Canadian War Museum and other military museums in Canada.
The challenge facing the Legion today is to convince young people and future generations of the need to remember those who have died in the wars to give us peace.
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Post by gwiz on Nov 10, 2007 16:41:38 GMT -4
It's a poppy. Almost all Canadians wear them from Nov. 1 to Nov. 11 (which is our Rememberance Day). As do us Brits, I'm wearing mine now.
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Post by Ginnie on Nov 10, 2007 16:57:02 GMT -4
Oh, Rememrance Day is like Memorial Day in the States.
Though in Newfoundland (province of Canada where I was born) we also celebrate our National Holiday, Canada Day as Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is the name for the national holiday of Canada Day celebrated on the Monday closest to July 1. Memorial Day celebrates the losses of Newfoundlanders in the Battle of Beaumont Hamel during the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
On July 1, 1916, 801 members of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment fought in that battle and only 68 answered the roll call the next morning.
Unfortuneatley , the British Command liked to use Newfoundland troops as cannon fodder sometimes. What was heartbreaking about this battle was that many families lost multiple members, some lost all their sons. Also Canadian Troops were used the same way at the disastrous Dieppe campaign in WWII, which was like a practice run for Normandy.
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Post by Ginnie on Nov 10, 2007 17:01:01 GMT -4
Ah, yes, of course. I don't know my flowers, so thanks for the info. Incidently, I myself am a veteran. Guess I should've known about the avatar, yes? I'm not sure if you would have know or not. I think the poppy is a Commonwealth idea. Do they wear them in NZ and Australia?
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Post by Ginnie on Nov 10, 2007 17:02:26 GMT -4
Incidently, I myself am a veteran. Thank You. EDIT: and that goes out to all the other member who are vets, if they will accept it.
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Post by Czero 101 on Nov 10, 2007 18:12:24 GMT -4
There's a good chance that almost all Canadian in this forum has one pinned on their garments somewhere. Yep... I have mine on the lapel of my leather jacket in memory of all veterans, alive and passed, everywhere. Somehow "Thank you" just doesn't seem quite enough. Cz
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Post by Ginnie on Nov 10, 2007 18:27:48 GMT -4
There's a good chance that almost all Canadian in this forum has one pinned on their garments somewhere. Yep... I have mine on the lapel of my leather jacket in memory of all veterans, alive and passed, everywhere. Somehow "Thank you" just doesn't seem quite enough. Cz Oh, I agree. The sacrifices made were enormous. It's hard to imagine. When you think that probably one out of four males in Canada during the years 1914 to 1945 served in WWI or WWII, it is quite incredible. Plus the women who signed up, the merchant marine, and all the folks at home who contributed. We had a small population compared to a lot of countries, but the ratio was very high of those who served. Not to forget too, those who have served since then in our military. No matter when they signed up, their life is on the line. I've always felt slightly guilty because I spent my younger years drinking and partying and such, while others volunteered and did their duty. A heartfelt appreciation goes out to them all!
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Al Johnston
"Cheer up!" they said, "It could be worse!" So I did, and it was.
Posts: 1,453
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Post by Al Johnston on Nov 10, 2007 21:00:39 GMT -4
On July 1, 1916, 801 members of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment fought in that battle and only 68 answered the roll call the next morning. Sadly that was a fairly typical experience for the British and Commonwealth Armies on that day: the day that Kitchener's "New Army" recruited since the War started went into battle for the first time (the core of professionals who started the conflict having been all but wiped out in the interim). Particularly tragic were the notorious "Pal's Battalions" formed of groups who had signed on together and trained together: one burst of machine gun fire could (and did) lead to whole streets of families receiving War Department telegrams the next day.
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Post by Ginnie on Nov 11, 2007 0:50:01 GMT -4
Of note: The city I live in changed its name from Berlin to Kitchener in 1916.
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Al Johnston
"Cheer up!" they said, "It could be worse!" So I did, and it was.
Posts: 1,453
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Post by Al Johnston on Nov 11, 2007 8:57:24 GMT -4
Anti-German feeling was very strong in WWI, whipped up by invented atrocity stories of murdered babies, raped nuns and crucified (Canadian?) prisoners, and "Hymns of hate" for the civilian population. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the British Royal Family changed their name from Saxe-Coburg Gotha to Windsor.
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Post by gwiz on Nov 11, 2007 9:44:10 GMT -4
A heartfelt appreciation goes out to them all! I owe my existence to the fact that my father survived WWI. He was in the Sappers and collected a gallantry medal from the French. His story was that he was so involved in sorting out the problems of building a bridge that he never noticed that he was being shot at until he'd finished. He died 25 years ago today.
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Post by craiglamson on Nov 11, 2007 10:29:30 GMT -4
I'm sure a lot of you are aware of Craig Lamson's Apollo Defenders forum . As I understand it, Craig has started it up to challege all HB in vigorous debate. As he puts it: "Hi I'm Craig Lamson, the owner of this forum. Lets get down to business. The Apollo missions were real, despite what many 'hoaxers' will try to claim. How do we know? I know because the photography shows us it was . And how do I know the photography is real? Because I have studied it in depth and applied my 30 years of professional photography experience. I challenge any hoaxer to prove the record wrong. Let the games begin. Flame retardant undershorts optional."What I find surprising is that no HB has responded to his challenge. With loose rules for debate banning would seem to be almost impossible there. It seems maybe the HB are losing steam? Yes, its too bad the youtubers are afraid of open debate. I guess its easier to spew nonsense in 500 characters or less.
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Post by gillianren on Nov 11, 2007 16:35:50 GMT -4
Thank You. EDIT: and that goes out to all the other member who are vets, if they will accept it. Actually, it irritates the bejeezus out of Graham to be thanked for his service in Iraq. I think, however, that it's largely because he doesn't approve of the war and doesn't think he should've been sent there in the first place.
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Post by Grand Lunar on Nov 11, 2007 16:47:37 GMT -4
I agree with him on that. I didn't like having this war, but served anyway (though I was already in the service when it started).
I don't always feel I deserves thanks, as i was in the "comforts" of a ship.
I'll thank him for just being in the Army, okay Gillianren?
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Post by Grand Lunar on Nov 11, 2007 16:49:10 GMT -4
I'm sure a lot of you are aware of Craig Lamson's Apollo Defenders forum . As I understand it, Craig has started it up to challege all HB in vigorous debate. As he puts it: "Hi I'm Craig Lamson, the owner of this forum. Lets get down to business. The Apollo missions were real, despite what many 'hoaxers' will try to claim. How do we know? I know because the photography shows us it was . And how do I know the photography is real? Because I have studied it in depth and applied my 30 years of professional photography experience. I challenge any hoaxer to prove the record wrong. Let the games begin. Flame retardant undershorts optional."What I find surprising is that no HB has responded to his challenge. With loose rules for debate banning would seem to be almost impossible there. It seems maybe the HB are losing steam? Yes, its too bad the youtubers are afraid of open debate. I guess its easier to spew nonsense in 500 characters or less. All too true.
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